nardone



June ll, 1940.

R. M. NARDQNE ENGINE STARTER Filed June ll, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 11, 1940. R, .9., NARDONE 2,203,795

' ENGINE STARTER Filed June '11, 1957 3 sheets-sheet -2 fd V L..."

June 11, 1940.

R. M. NARDONE 2,203,795

` ENGINE STARTER Filed JuneY 11,' `1957l :s "sheets-sheet s INVENToR.

a-AURNMM n The self-energizing clutch 33, tends to form leasing solenoid 9| energized. Energization of' solenoid 9|' causes the lower end of lever 4I to be moved to the left, thus moving rod 40 to the right and shoes 33 radially into driving engagement with drum 3| whereby-shaft 34 is rotated. Upon Vthe initial rotation of shaft 34, the inertia of driving unit 44, 45 causes said unit to move longitudinally on shaft 34, compressing spring 49. whereby pinion 45 meshes with flywheel gear 48 and engages stop nut 50. The driving unit now rotates with shaft 34 and tire engine is cranked.- V

When the engine starts, iiywheel gear 48 Iwill drive pinion 45 and this overrunning action will return the driving unit to the demeshed position shown in Fig. 1. Thereupon the operator allows switch I I2 to return to the neutral position indicated in Fig. 5, thereby de-energizing the solenoid 9| and permitting the brake shoe B9 to take hold upon the flywheel I2 under the urge of spring 99.' The resultant stoppage of the flywheel and the gears and other parts rotated thereby, including the screw shaft 34, eliminates any tendency whichl the thread of the screw shaft might otherwise have to induce a re-drift of the pinion 45 into objectionable contact with the now rapidly rotating teeth of the gear 48. 'I'nus the application ofthe brake B9 serves as a supplement to the spring 49 in reducing any such redrifting tendency on the part of the pinion 45.

a positive driving connection between the fiywheel and the pinion 45, but the various elements oi Ythe starter are protected from overload by the preset clutch 2|,l 22, 26, which may be accurately adjusted to transmit a desired amount of torque.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus'of the class described, an electric motor, means including a friction clutch for transmitting energy developed in said motor to a member of an engine to Ybe started, said transmitting means further including a threaded shaft adapted to be rotatably driven by said friction clutch, a sleeve threaded on said shaft for rotary and longitudinal movement thereon, a pinion mounted on and splined to said sleeve for axial movement relative thereto, and for rotary movement therewith, said axial movement being adapted to produce operative engagement between said pinion and said engine member, and resilient means for resisting said relative axial movement, said resilient means having engagement at one end with said sleeve and at its opposite end with said pinion, and being positioned between said sleeve and pinion. A.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a driving drum, of means inoluding friction shoes engageable with said drum to transmit energy stored in said drum to a member of an engine to be started, a driven shaft rotatable with said friction shoes and having a threaded portion, a sleeve threaded on said shaft, said sleeve being adapted to move longitudinally of said shaft and to rotate in relation thereto, a pinion splined to the periphery of said sleeve for axial movement in relation thereto to establish driving connection with said engine member, a ring for limiting said axial movement in one direction, and resilient means for limiting and resisting said axial movement in the other direction.

ROMEO M. NARDONE. 

